The highly anticipated International Dairy Week has again attracted a field of top quality judges.
All Breeds National Youth Show
Judge Jade Sieben, originally from Gympie, Queensland, has been immersed in the dairy industry her whole life. She attended the University of Queensland Gatton College and graduated with an Associate Diploma of Applied Science Animal Production majoring in grazing animals. While at university she kept up her interest in showing and travelled the country showing cows and representing Queensland twice in the National Young Judges Competition.
Currently Jade, alongside her family is milking 200 cows at Brindabella Holsteins, on 97 hectares in Northern Victoria.
Jade is one of the three founders of the extremely successful Power of Women in Dair event, held annually at IDW, which has been running for the past five years. Recently Jade was elected to the Australia Dairy Farmers Corporation board. She is excited in ADFC’s future and looking forward to being part of it. She has also been the secretary of the North West Holstein Sub-branch for the past seven years.
Jade has been a part of the National Holstein Judging panel for almost 25 years and has had the privilege of judging shows and on-farm challenges right across the country. In addition to her judging career, Jade has had the opportunity to mentor and assess at Victorian Judging Schools.
Some of Jade’s judging highlights include the Brisbane Royal, Canberra Royal and NSW on-farm state final.
The Sherri Martin Youth Showmanship Classes
Youth Showmanship Competition judge Zoe Hayes, alongside her family, runs a 500-cow herd in northern Victoria consisting of 50 per cent Illawarras and 50pc Holsteins. Llandovery Illawarras have been competing at IDW every year since the Illawarra show began in 1999.
Zoe has been fortunate to travel to a lot of Australia’s major shows competing at showmanship competitions.
Most recently she was awarded the opportunity to represent Australia at the European Young Breeders School in Belgium, where she placed second in handlers, third in fitting and seventh overall out of 163 competitors. At IDW Zoe has won the Sherri Martin Showmanship competition five times.
Zoe has been highly involved in showing dairy cattle throughout her life. Her most memorable show moments are winning the Supreme All Breeds Junior Champion at IDW 2020 and achieving the trifecta in the Illawarra breed in 2016, also at IDW.
As well as this, Zoe and her family get just as much enjoyment out of animals that they have sold going and winning for other exhibitors. These include Llandovery JR Joan EX94 coming Reserve Supreme Senior Cow and Llandovery Thorpes Stella winning Supreme Intermediate at IDW in the same year of 2018.
Australia’s National Ayrshire Show
Ayrshire judge Mark Patullo is married to Tracey and they have two children Bree and Hayden and six grandchildren.
Mark has been involved in the dairy industry for most of his life, leasing a dairy farm in Gippsland before moving to the Goulburn Valley in Northern Victoria. There he purchased a farm at Katunga with his parents. He farmed there for more than 20 years with registered Ayrshires and Holsteins.
After selling the farm, Mark turned to the artificial breeding industry, working with three different companies over the years and now with World Wide Sires Australia. He is the regional sales manager for Queensland, WA, north-east Victoria and South Coast NSW, herd evaluator for World Wide Sires and sales manager for World Wide Sires Evolution Sale at IDW.
Mark’s achievements include:
- Owner of Walmar Ayrshires and Holsteins.
- He was in a partnership to import the first Ayrshire heifer to Australia from Canada. Her dam was the highest Canadian classified Ayrshire cow at 97pts.
- Mark either owned or bred Ayrshire cows that have won Champions at Melbourne Royal, Sydney Royal, Adelaide Royal, Brisbane Royal and Shepparton National.
- Walmar Farms twice won Champion Ayrshire cow at IDW in 1998 and 1999.
- IDW Ayrshire Premier Breeder five times. IDW Ayrshire Premier Exhibitor three times.
- IDW Reserve Champion Holstein cow (partnership}.
- IDW Reserve Champion Holstein cow.
- IDW Intermediate Champion (partnership).
- IDW Intermediate Champion.
- Holstein Champion cow twice at Sydney Royal (partnership).
One of the highlights for Mark was being at the Holstein World Conference, taking out Supreme Dairy Cow both times. Mark has had the privilege of preparing cattle and leading for many breeders and owners across the country. He has been leads person for many sales for well-known Holstein breeders, and also for many sales at IDW.
Mark started judging in his early 20s and was accepted onto the National Ayrshire judging panel.
Australia’s National Guernsey Show
Guernsey judge Pat Nicholson is married to Carmen and has two sons Riley, 10, and Tyler, 7. Pat is part of a family operation at Girgarre in northern Victoria with his brother Brendon and his wife Tenealle. Together they run Jugiong Jerseys, milking 400 Jerseys on 220 hectares of flood irrigated land.
The Jugiong herd has over the years, been home to some of Australia’s highest classified and production Jerseys. Pat is the fourth generation of the Nicholson family to own and operate Jugiong Jerseys.
In 2019, the milking herd was dispersed before a huge crowd and an average of $2800 and a top price of $15,000. Animals sold to all states of Australia, except WA.
The herd is currently building again from the large numbers of young stock that were retained.
Pat is the past president and current secretary of the Northern District Jersey Breeders club and has an extensive background in the development of the breed, as a past classifier with Jersey Australia and past sales manager for the Northern Lights Sale. He also currently represents Jersey Australia on the National All Breeds Ethics Committee and is a member of the Jersey Australia Genetics Sub Committee.
Pat was also a leader and manager of the National All Dairy Breeds Youth camp for many years, having always seen it as vital that each generation gives back to teach and promote dairy to the younger generation. He benefited greatly from participating in camps himself and developing his love of judging from attending such camps. He was also involved in calf shows and judging competitions from a young age and sees these as a great way for young people to get started with showing and judging.
Pat is a member of both the Jersey Australia and Holstein Australia judging panels and has been overjudge for Jersey, Holstein and Ayrshire Judging Schools over the years. Pat is a strong supporter of the youth of the dairy industry and regularly shares his knowledge and provides advice to the next generation be it at youth camps, youth days or local shows. Pat’s judging experience is extensive, starting as a 16-year-old, judging the Jerseys at the Wonthaggi Agriculture Show. Since then he has become one of the leading judges of all breeds Australia.
Some highlights of his judging experience include:
- Jerseys at Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane and Toowoomba Royals.
- NSW State Jersey Show, South Australian Autumn Fair, Gippsland Fair and many feature shows.
- World Conference Jersey Show at the New Zealand Dairy Event.
- National Guernsey Show and Youth Show, International Dairy Week.
- National Jersey Show International Dairy Week.
- Holsteins at Adelaide, Toowoomba and Perth Royals and many All Australian Shows.
- Great Southern Challenge.
- Semex/Holstein Australia Victorian On Farm Challenge.
- On Farm Challenges across Australia in Jerseys, Holsteins, Illawarras and Guernseys.
- Overjudged junior judging and handler’s classes and been involved in mentoring young breeders.
Australia’s National Illawarra Show
Illawarra judge John Gardiner, Cardina, Vic, is well known for his highly regarded Holstein herd Avonlea Holsteins, which was founded in 1948. The herd of 200 has achieved a master breeder status on two occasions. John, along with his wife Cherie and two children Luke and Amy, has had many successes in the show ring over the past years, some highlights including:
- Premier Exhibitor and Breeder Victorian Winter Fair 2021.
- Premier Breeder IDW 2020.
- Most Successful Exhibitor IDW 2018 and 2019.
- Champion Cow Winter Fair 2018.
- Most Successful Exhibitor Victorian Winter Fair 2017 and 2018.
- Bred 2009 IDW Champion Cow.
- Bred and exhibited Champion Cow in 1993.
John has had the pleasure of judging many major appointments of multiple breeds over the years. Some of his highlights include:
- Adelaide Royal – 2013, 2005, 1995.
- Brisbane Royal – 2016, 2004, 1991, 1986.
- Christchurch New Zealand – 1988.
- IDW – 2010, 2000.
- Melbourne Royal – 2018, 2009, 1993.
- NSW State Show – 2014, 2008.
- NZ Dairy Event – 2011.
- Perth Royal – 1990.
- Sydney Royal – 2000, 1998, 1997.
- Victorian and NSW State on-farm championships.
The farming operation and showing have always been a huge part of John’s life. In conjunction with this, he is currently involved in youth leadership programs and a member of the Follow Baptist Church.
Australia’s National Brown Swiss Show
Brown Swiss judge Brian Leslie pre-eminent dairy auctioneer and founded Australia’s best-known dairy show International Dairy Week.
He was raised on a Holstein farm, which operated under the prefix of Pooley Bridge.
Brian developed a love of pedigree Holsteins at a young age and enjoyed showing cattle.
Pooley Bridge has exhibited grand champion Holstein at International Dairy Week three times, won premier breeder and exhibitor 13 times and more than 20 championships.
Brian’s career as a judge has taken him to many prestigious shows around the world including Canada, United Kingdom, United States, New Zealand and Australia.
He has judged every dairy breed at all royal shows throughout Australia.
Australia’s National Jersey Show
Jersey judge Brian Wilson resides in Tamworth, NSW. Along with his wife Vicki, they own and manage a family operation that includes Shirlinn Jerseys and Peel Valley Milk Company. The farming enterprise consists of three properties at Tamworth with a total of 350 hectares. The couple has three children and eight grandchildren.
Brian has been involved in the dairy industry all his life and is a fourth-generation dairy farmer and Jersey breeder. His parents started the Shirlinn Jersey Stud in 1969. Brian and Vicki took ownership of the family business in 2000, and moved the operation from Wingham to Tamworth in 2002.
The Shirlinn stud has had much success over the years, including:
- Premier Breeder IDW Jersey show 2016/ 2017. Premier Exhibitor IDW 2013/2016.
- Champion Cow at Sydney Royal seven times, plus two Shirlinn cows winning Champion Cow for other owners.
- Shirlinn Icy Eve winning Supreme Champion Dairy Cow Sydney Royal three times. The only cow to have won three times and winning Supreme Champion at IDW 2016.
- Winning Breeders Group All Breeds Sydney Royal, a record nine times.
Brian has had the privilege of judging all over Australia as well as three times in New Zealand, including the New Zealand Dairy Event. Some highlights in Australia include judging Jerseys and Brown Swiss at Sydney Royal, Jerseys and Holsteins at both Melbourne Royal and Adelaide Royal, Holsteins, Brown Swiss and Illawarras at Brisbane Royal, Perth Royal and Hobart Royal, as well as feature shows in all states.
Sport has also played a big role in Brian’s life, and in his younger days played football for the Wingham Tigers, as well as coaching junior and senior sides. He was selected in their team of the century and is a life member of the club. He also served a term as president of West Tamworth Football Club.
Brian has been heavily involved in industry, having spent time on NSW Farmers committee, Australian Dairy Farmers Policy Advisory Group, Tamworth Show Committee and local cattle clubs. He is also on the council of the NSW Royal Agricultural Society, and is serving his ninth year on the board of Jersey Australia and is currently vice president.
Jersey associate judge Willy McKay is a native of the USA, who relocated to Australia nine years ago. Together with his wife Lisa -they own and manage the family operation; Linsand Farms – milking a 200 cow mixed Holstein and Jersey in Irrewillipe, Victoria.
Willy was raised on his family’s jersey farm in Ohio and he has been heavily involved in breeding and showing cows from a young age. He has been fortunate to have worked with many of the great breeders throughout North America, Mexico, Germany and Australia.
A highlight was co-owning and exhibiting; Big Guns Jamaica Vanilla EX-95 who was Grand Champion of the International Jersey Show at WDE, Reserve Senior Champion at the Royal Winter Fair and Grand Champion of the New York Spring Show. Linsand Farms is almost home to the two time IDW Supreme Champion; Fairvale Morty Lady 51 EX-97 5E.
During his schooling, Willy was a member of the winning Ohio State FFA judging team and has recently started judging again in Victoria.
Cows are Willy’s passion and he is excited to be supporting his friend and highly respected cowman, Brian Wilson in the ring!
Australia’s National Holstein Show
Holstein judge Warren Ferguson is a man who needs no introduction to the upper echelons of the industry. Warren, of Ferdon Genetics, has already stood in the main ring at IDW – judging the Jerseys in 2012 (when the Jersey won Supreme Champion) and the Ayrshires in 2017 (when his Intermediate Ayrshire Champion went on to win Supreme Intermediate).
He is also well-versed in competing, having won Premier Jersey Exhibitor every time Ferdon has entered the New Zealand Dairy Event. Ferdon was established in 1949 by Warren’s father, Don, who famously shared ownership of cows with the United Kingdom’s longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.
Warren and his wife, Michelle, milk 220 cows on 92ha at Otorohanga, in the heart of New Zealand’s Waikato. Their herd is predominately Jerseys with a smattering of Holsteins and Ayrshires. Their family is completed by their three sons and their families. Their son, Corey, who is blazing his own trail in the industry, recently returned home to the family operation.
Warren remains in the starting gates to judge both the Jersey UK National Show and the Jersey Island Autumn Show when COVID-19 retreats. Warren was awarded Jersey NZ’s inaugural George Henry Dawick Memorial Cup in 2020, which recognises national or international achievement within the breed.
One of Ferdon’s cow families almost as well-known as Ferdon itself is Ferdon Comerica Viyella, who was Grand Champion Jersey at the NZDE for five successive years – winning Supreme in 2012, 2015 and 2016. Its dam, Ferdon Follys Viyella still resides at Ferdon, aged 17 years.
In addition to its own NZDE Champion titles, it has left 11 EX daughters (including seven natural). It is backed by 10 generations of EX cows. Ferdon Sambos Bright Eyes was also a shining light for the family. Warren has exhibited for 55 years at the Waikato Show, following on from his parent’s seven decade effort at the same event.
Holstein associate judge Cameron Yarnold operates Arrallik Holsteins at Wingham, NSW, alongside wife Ashley and son Harrison, sharefarming with Cameron’s father. They milk 150 cows on their 85ha family farm, predominately Holsteins with a small number of Jerseys.
Cameron is the third-generation dairy farmer on his home farm with father Garry, Killarra Park, a Holstein Australia Master Breeder, while being a fourth-generation on his mother’s side. Grandparents Doug and Zandria Polson, Oxley Vale, have been twice awarded Holstein Australia Master Breeder.
He has bred and owned champions at International Dairy Week, Sydney Royal, Victorian Winter Fair, NSW state show and State On Farm Challenges. Arrallik Policy Meg (ex91 4e 3*) was his first animal to wear the Arrallik Prefix abd has bred four EX and six VG females and has sons and grandsons in Al. It was Champion at IDW in 2009 and Supreme Champion at Sydney Royal in 2010 and All Australian 2009-2010.
In 2016, Cameron travelled to Canada to The Royal Winter Fair to work with the team at the Semex Walk of Fame.
Cameron’s previous judging highlights include:
- IDW Sherri Martin Showmanship 2017.
- Associate Judge Victorian Winter Fair 2015.
- Adelaide Royal 2015.
- Sydney Royal Showmanship and Youth Challenge 2015 and 2019.
- Numerous local shows around Australia.
He is looking forward to being the associate judge for the 2022 Holstein show alongside Warren Ferguson.
Source: FarmOnline & IDW